Kagiso Rabada free to play after serving reduced drug ban, will feature in GT's next IPL 2025 match

South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada has reportedly completed a one-month suspension for using a recreational drug and is free to play competitive cricket again. Rabada was provisionally banned after testing positive for a drug test earlier this year during the SA20 league.

The ban was shortened from three months after he agreed to take part in a rehab and education program. He left the Gujarat Titans camp mid-season earlier in April and returned to South Africa to serve his sentence. According to ESPNcricinfo, the pacer has now been cleared to play.

Back and ready to play again

The South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) confirmed that Rabada tested positive on 21 January, after a game between MI Cape Town and Durban Super Giants. However, the test result only came out on 1 April, by which time Rabada was in India playing for GT in the IPL 2025 .

Just two days after the news reached him, GT announced that Rabada had left the team for “personal reasons” after playing only two matches this season. Now we know the real reason behind his sudden departure.

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After completing the required education and awareness program about drug use, Rabada is now allowed to return to cricket. This means Rabada could be back in action as early as Tuesday, when Gujarat Titans face Mumbai Indians in their next IPL 2025 match.

What drug was it?

The exact substance hasn’t been made public, but SAIDS mentioned that it falls under recreational drugs, which include things like cannabis, cocaine, methamphetamine, and diamorphine. These are not considered performance-enhancing, but are still banned under World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules when found in an athlete’s system.

According to WADA, the usual punishment for such drugs is three months, but it can be reduced to one month if the athlete joins a treatment program. That’s exactly what happened with Rabada. A similar case happened last year with New Zealand’s Doug Bracewell, who also received a one-month ban for testing positive for cocaine during a domestic T20 tournament.

Tim Paine slams lack of transparency

Former Australia captain Tim Paine criticised the way Rabada’s suspension was kept under wraps , calling it unfair to the public and the cricket community. Speaking on SEN Radio, Paine said that taking drugs is not a personal issue that can just be hidden. He added that fans deserve to know what substance was involved and other details of the case.